Local News

Police have recovered several stolen pieces of expensive lawn care equipment, but are still looking for a person of interest in the thefts.

On July 2, two zero-turn lawnmowers, each valued at $9,000, were reported stolen from the Lancaster County Parks and Recreation building on 15th Street. The street is in the Lancaster Police Department’s jurisdiction. A pickup truck was also stolen at the time.

The county has approved a bond resolution that could eventually lead to lower costs for natural gas customers in the county.

Patriots Energy Group, a public body created by the Natural Gas Authorities of Chester, York and Lancaster counties, recently asked Lancaster County Council to allocate a benefit from the federal stimulus bill to their organization.

Patriots requested a bond allocation that could help fund its construction of an almost 40-mile natural gas pipeline.

Lancaster City Council made some changes to its hospitality tax committee last week.

Council members have sparred recently over which projects to fund with the city’s hospitality tax funds, which are generated by the sale of prepared food and hotel stays in the city limits. The money, by statute, can only be spent on projects that will bring in tourism to the city.

GREAT FALLS – It’s been a hot summer and many people have been using fans to keep comfortable.

But in one location, 105 fans were turned on at the same time.

Dr. Anne Cope, director of research at the Institute for Business and Home Safety, spoke with Chester County Chamber of Commerce members and guests Wednesday about the new institute’s new test center on S.C. 99.

County Council wants to fine tune a priorities list before it finalizes it.

Council recently discussed making changes to a recommended priority list gathered from the U.S. 521/S.C. 9 corridor study.

The study made recommendations about every thing from public transportation to traffic signals in the area of U.S. 521 from Lancaster north to the state line and from S.C. 9 from the city of Lancaster west to the Catawba River. The study was conducted by URG, an urban and development planning firm.

County officials are looking at options for replacing thousands of street signs before the county must comply with a federal sign mandate.

County Administrator Steve Willis recently asked County Council to allocate funds in its 2010-11 budget for replacing signs on streets throughout the county, though council chose to wait until it had further cost information.